Objectives:

Viral isolation in cell culture remains as a reference method for diagnosis of enteroviral infection. Enteric adenoviruses are cultivated in 293 cells. Enteroviral and enteroadenoviral tropisms for the gastrointestinal tract lead to the assumption that 293 cells would be useful in enteroviral culture. We evaluated usefulness of 293 cells in the diagnosis of enteroviral infection.

Methods:

Human embryonic lung fibroblasts (HEL), HeLa, RD and 293 cells were used to evaluate viral isolation from clinical specimens and susceptibilities of the cell lines to ATCC (American Tissue Culture Collection) enteroviral strains. Type 9 echovirus positive 31 stool specimens, type 30 echovirus positive 33 stool and 59 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens were inoculated onto cell lines.

Results:

Of 31 echovirus 9 isolates, 22 (71.0%), 21 (67.7%), 6 (19.4%) and 3 (9.7%) were detected in HEL, 293, RD and HeLa, respectively. Of 33 echovirus 30 isolates from stool specimens, 32 (97.0%) were detected in 293, 17 (51.5%) were detected in RD. Of 58 echovirus 30 isolates from CSF specimens, 39 (67.2%) were detected in 293, 50 (51.7%) were detected in RD. 293 cells were sensitive for coxackievirus A9 ATCC strain and echovirus 7 ATCC strain.

Conclusion:

293 cells are useful in the diagnosis of echoviral and some enteroviral infection.